SUNRISE, Fla. — In the weeks leading up to the NHL trade deadline, the Panthers made it clear what their objective is for the future: gearing up for the summer.

General manager Dale Tallon cleared future cap space with one big move — dealing Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann to Pittsburgh on Feb. 1 — all with an eye on the near future. Trading Bjugstad alone cleared up $4.1 million; McCann another million and change.

Further moves to add to the roster and/or free up more money could come at the June draft before free agency opens July 1.

Tallon says the Panthers will be “aggressive” when it comes to free agents, and two huge names — goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and forward Artemi Panarin — obviously come to mind as targets.

In the past, the Panthers have not been major players on July 1 either by choice or because of the team’s financial constraints.

Throughout their history, the Panthers have built their roster largely through...